Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

House Bill 3122, Kayla Thompson

Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

Background Checks For Physical Therapists, Ashley M. Casto

Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

Addressing The Importance Of Accessibility For Newly Constructed Dwelling Units, Maria Ducci

Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Fund, Glenna Rose Sprenger

Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

Position On House Bill 3111, Katelyn Ramsey

Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

Community Notification Policies, J.J. Prescott

Book Chapters

Community notification policies seek to prevent crime, raise awareness, or otherwise educate the public about criminal activity by requiring or permitting the police or other community actors to disseminate information to the public. Policies can focus on potential victims, potential offenders, the community at large, or some combination of these three. Victim-oriented policies seek to reduce the likelihood of victimization by encouraging precautionary behavior on the part of at-risk individuals. Offender-oriented policies publicize information (e.g., the severity of penalties or the likelihood of arrest) with the aim of deterring potential offenders from engaging in harmful activities. Community-oriented policies provide the …

Car T Cells As A Patentable Therapeutic, Mckenzie List

Honors Program Theses

The development of a therapeutic to treat a particular disease is a complicated process that incorporates numerous components such as drug discovery, clinical trials, FDA approval and patentability. In the last two decades, cancer research and development has shifted from identifying small molecule therapeutic agents to focusing research on a novel approach designated as immunotherapy. Today, immunotherapy has progressed from a twentieth century scientific theory into an innovative treatment to cancer. In particular, CAR T cells have demonstrated therapeutic properties for certain types of cancers, but these living cells are not compatible with the traditional therapeutic model. First, the drug …

Addressing Drug Misuse On A College Campus: An Academic And Resource Driven Approach, Deborah Ebbinghaus

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

In recent years, the United States has experienced an epidemic of drug misuse. Many studies have indicated those in the typical college age demographic of eighteen to twenty-five years of age are particularly at risk. This research examines prescription drug misuse on college campuses, with the aim of proposing additional resources for the University. It has three components: a literature analysis, a policy, procedure, and resource review, and new resource development. The literature review will examine journal articles published after January 1, 2010 related to prescription misuse in collegians. It also examines state and university specific data. The policy, procedure, …

Parent Interaction Between An Infant With A Cochlear Implant And Additional Disabilities, Lillian Southern

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Pediatric hearing loss has many spoken language learning issues that can impact parent-infant interaction. Moreover, additional disabilities are likely to increase stress, which could have cascading effects on communication. The purpose of the study was to examine interactions between mother- and father-child dyads with and without hearing loss and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Cytomegalovirus (CMV), and global delay. Recordings of the parents speaking with six infants in the study were analyzed: an infant with cochlear implants and ASD (low socioeconomic status, SES), two infants with cochlear implants and normal development (high SES and low SES), one infant with a cochlear …

Alkylaminophenol Induces G1/S Phase Cell Cycle Arrest In Glioblastoma Cells Through P53 And Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Signaling Pathway., Phuong Doan, Aliyu Musa, Nuno R Candeias, Frank Emmert-Streib, Olli Yli-Harja, Meenakshisundaram Kandhavelu

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common type of malignant brain tumor in adults. We show here that small molecule 2-[(3,4-dihydroquinolin-1(2H)-yl)(p-tolyl)methyl]phenol (THTMP), a potential anticancer agent, increases the human glioblastoma cell death. Its mechanism of action and the interaction of selective signaling pathways remain elusive. Three structurally related phenolic compounds were tested in multiple glioma cell lines in which the potential activity of the compound, THTMP, was further validated and characterized. Upon prolonged exposer to THTMP, all glioma cell lines undergo p53 and cyclin-dependent kinase mediated cell death with the IC

Reverting Immune Suppression To Enhance Cancer Immunotherapy., Bella S Guerrouahen, Cristina Maccalli, Chiara Cugno, Sergio Rutella, Emmanuel T Akporiaye

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Tumors employ strategies to escape immune control. The principle aim of most cancer immunotherapies is to restore effective immune surveillance. Among the different processes regulating immune escape, tumor microenvironment-associated soluble factors, and/or cell surface-bound molecules are mostly responsible for dysfunctional activity of tumor-specific CD8

Anxiety-Like Behavior In Adolescent Rats Following Maternal Separation And Chronic Cocaine Exposure, Jonathan Handy

Behavioral Neuroscience Honors Papers

Cocaine is one of the most widely used illicit substances in the world and has an addiction rate comparable to opioids. Early Life Stress (ELS) has been shown to have a profound influence on the development of an individual, showing strong correlations to the development of psychiatric disorders and psychostimulant abuse. Adolescents in particular are at a high risk for the abuse of psychostimulants such as cocaine. Previous studies have individually described the correlation between cocaine addiction and anxiety, and the correlation between ELS and cocaine addiction. Rats who have experienced some form of ELS have shown a higher levels …

3d Printed Biliary Anatomy For Surgical Planning, Jason Core, Erik Massenzio, Tamar Wasserman, Kevin Xie

Phase 1

Background: Studies demonstrated that 3D-printed livers from CT or MRI data can be accurate models of actual patient anatomy. However, it has yet to be established if 3D printing offers improvements to clinical outcomes in surgery. This project seeks to optimize these applications for use at Jefferson by producing 3D-printed models from patient CT scans to guide liver resection surgeries.

Methods: A liver transplant attending was interviewed about challenges encountered during hepatectomies. A publicly available abdominal computed tomography scan was used to render a liver and its vasculature in 3DSlicer. The liver surface was cut into two halves in MeshMixer …

Portable Pelvic Exam Positioning Device For Enhanced Workflow And Patient Comfort, Hannah Levy, Elliott Perow, Sean Haynie

Phase 1

Background: Pelvic exams are often performed in settings other than designated obstetrics and gynecology suites. In these other settings, the equipment that is traditionally used to position the patient, such as a bed fitted with stirrups, may not be available. Therefore, physicians often improvise a solution to elevate the pelvis, such as using inverted bedpans, pillows or blankets. However, the lack of an appropriate device to position patients decreases patient and physician comfort, causes workflow inefficiency and leads to suboptimal examination due to inadequate provider visualization.

Methods: Over the course of five months, input from patients and providers alike was …

Improving Midstream Urine Collection For Urine Culture Through The Use Of A Novel Device, Flipcatch, Christopher Neely, Dante Varotsis, Helen Xu

Phase 1

Background : A midstream, clean-catch urine sample is the gold standard for diagnosing urinary tract infections and determining treatment. The current method of collection is not standardized, frustrating both patients and providers. The current method results in a high rate of contaminated samples (30-40%), which often need to be repeated in order to obtain a diagnosis and antibiotic susceptibility data. A design project was conducted in order to create a more effective urine collection device with the goals of decreasing contamination and improving patient and provider experience.

Methods : We conducted interviews of patients, allied health professionals, physicians, and clinical …

Cross-Sectional Analysis Of Sound Levels In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Nicu) At Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Caroline Komlo, Martin Morris, Robert Ries, Michael Velez

Phase 1

Introduction . Infants in the NICU are considered at greater risk of developmental delay. It is now known that excessively loud noise can have a negative impact on parameters such as blood pressure, breathing, heart beat and oxygen saturation. Previous research has concluded that the optimal decibel (dB) level for proper growth of neonate hair cells rests around 45dB. Consequently, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that noise levels in the NICU be maintained to a maximum of 45dBA. However, little research has focused on designing new noise-altering products and their impact on neonatal outcomes.

Methods. This was a cross …

The Influence Of Pre- And Post Meal Exercise In Relation To Postprandial Blood Glucose Levels In Type Ii Diabetics, Jessica Johnson

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of pre and post evening meal exercise in relation to postprandial blood glucose levels in type II diabetics. Fifteen participants diagnosed with type II diabetes volunteered to participate in this 21 day study. During the first seven days, participants were told to change nothing about their daily routine. Throughout the study they were asked to track all food consumption in the MyFitnessPal application and to record their blood glucose levels fasting, before their evening meal, and 120 minutes after their evening meal. At the end of day seven, each participant’s …

Subcellular Compartmentalization Of Pkm2 Identifies Anti-Pkm2 Therapy Response In Vitro And In Vivo Mouse Model Of Human Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer., Akiko Suzuki, Sachin Puri, Pamela Leland, Ankit Puri, Tarsem Moudgil, Bernard A Fox, Raj K Puri, Bharat H Joshi

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) is an alternatively spliced variant, which mediates the conversion of glucose to lactate in cancer cells under normoxic conditions, known as the Warburg effect. Previously, we demonstrated that PKM2 is one of 97 genes that are overexpressed in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines. Herein, we demonstrate a novel role of subcellular PKM2 expression as a biomarker of therapeutic response after targeting this gene by shRNA or small molecule inhibitor (SMI) of PKM2 enzyme activity in vitro and in vivo. We examined two established lung cancer cell lines, nine patients derived NSCLC and three normal lung …

An Exploration Of Parental Alcohol Abuse: The Effect On Emerging Adult Romantic Relationships, Hillary Nicole Schraufnagel

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The objective of this research was to explore the effect of parental alcohol abuse on emerging adult romantic relationships. Parent-child relationships play an important role and can impact emerging adults’ ability to function in their own relationships. Additionally, the role that alcohol plays in the childhood home has direct implications for child development. Data was collected using an initial survey and follow up extensive one-on-one interviews. Fifteen emerging adults (ages 18-29) were interviewed on their relationship with their parents, the role that alcohol played in their childhood home, as well as their relationship with their current romantic partner. The interviews …

Including Nursing Home Nurses In Wv Overtime And Patient Safety Act, Autumn Holt

Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

Hb 2153 Relating To Social Determinants Of Health, Samantha Wilson

Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

The Global Compact On Refugees: How The Sauti/Voice Project Fits, Josephine Ngebeh, Chi-Chi Undie, Joanina Karugaba

Reproductive Health

How can stakeholders support refugees in the present-day unprecedented global refugee crisis? At least one way is by entering into a clearly defined compact to do so. Developed in 2018, the Global Compact on Refugees is a nonbinding agreement among United Nations Member States and other relevant stakeholders, including international organizations. A symbol of political will, the Compact demonstrates the commitment of the international community to enhanced cooperation and solidarity with both refugees and their host communities. The Global Compact on Refugees provides the international community with guidance for supporting present-day refugee communities, characterized by large populations and protracted refugee …

Sauti/Voice Project: First Unhcr-Population Council Regional Workshop, Josephine Ngebeh, Chi-Chi Undie, Joanina Karugaba, George Odwe, Nachela Chelwa, Harriet Birungi, Michael Mbizvo

Reproductive Health

In 2014, the UNHCR East and Horn of Africa and Great Lakes (EHAGL) Africa Bureau in Nairobi, and the Population Council/Nairobi established technical cooperation for Improving Evidence-based Programming for Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) in Refugee Operations in the East and Horn of Africa. The Africa Bureau works closely with the Council to initiate appropriate interventions for the prevention of, and response to, SGBV in refugee operations. The Council’s technical team is represented by the Council-led Africa Regional SGBV Network. Technical cooperation between the Africa Bureau and the Council has resulted in a new initiative: VOICE—Violence Prevention and Response Through …

Differences In Degree Of Dorsiflexion In Varying Base Stances Of Collegiate Wrestlers, Andrew Cade

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Lower extremity injuries are very common among wrestlers, especially at a collegiate level. The purpose of this research project was to examine if a difference between dorsiflexion range of motion existed in the talocrural joint between two different wrestling base stances among collegiate wrestlers. The motion measured was active dorsiflexion of the talocrural joint. This motion was measured using a goniometer, an inclinometer, and functional, dynamic balance was assessed using the Y-balance test. A difference in dorsiflexion between these base stances could indicate a higher risk for certain lower body injuries of the knee, foot, and ankle. Wrestling is a …

Promoting Support For Public Health Policies Through Mediated Contact: Can Narrator Perspective And Self-Disclosure Curb In-Group Favoritism?, Riva Tukachinsky, Emily Brogan-Freitas, Tessa Urbanovich

Communication Faculty Articles and Research

An online 2 × 2 factorial experiment (N = 203) examined the effect of parasocial contact on support for public health policies in the context of opioid addiction. We hypothesize that because of an intergroup dynamic, individuals are less likely to engage with an outgroup character than an in-group character featured in a news magazine article. Results support the in-group favoritism hypothesis. The study examines two narrative devices for overcoming this tendency: the narrator’s perspective and amount of insight into the character’s inner world through character self-disclosure. We find support for the narrator perspective but not for the self-disclosure effect. …

Central Pain Mimicking Trigeminal Neuralgia As A Result Of Lateral Medullary Ischemic Stroke, Abinayaa Ravichandran, Kareem S. Elsayed, Hussam A. Yacoub

Neurology Faculty Publications

Background. Central pain mimicking trigeminal neuralgia (TN) as a result of lateral medullary infarction or Wallenberg syndrome has been rarely reported. Case Report. We discuss a patient who presented with a lateral medullary infarct and shortly after developed facial pain mimicking TN. We also elaborate on the anatomical pathway of the trigeminal nerve explaining facial pain as a result of a lateral medullary lesion. Discussion. Clinicians should be aware of this typical complication of lateral medullary infarct in order to attain proper management and work-up.

A Case Report Of Extensive Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis As A Presenting Sign Of Relapsing Nephrotic Syndrome, Janet K. Lee, Kathleen Murray, Swetha Renati

Neurology Faculty Publications

Nephrotic syndrome is defined by three characteristic features including proteinuria of >3 g in 24 hours, hypoalbuminemia of less than 3 g/dL, and peripheral edema. Multiple nephropathies can result in nephrotic syndrome. Most commonly, minimal change disease is seen in children under the age of 10, while adults are more commonly found to have membranous nephropathy. Hypercoagulability and thrombotic sequela can be seen in nephrotic syndrome, regardless of underlying etiology, and thrombosis is most commonly seen in deep veins of the lower extremities and renal veins. Our case identifies an adult with previously diagnosed and treated for minimal change disease …

Age Of Drinking Initiation As A Mediator Of The Relationship Between Sensation Seeking And Heavy Drinking Among High School Seniors, Diana M. Doumas, Rob Turrisi, Raissa Miller, Susan Esp, Brian Flay

Counselor Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

Sensation seeking has been identified as a significant risk factor for adolescent alcohol use. Little is known, however, about the process by which sensation seeking impacts heavy alcohol use. The current study used structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the relationships among sensation seeking, age of drinking initiation, and heavy alcohol use in a sample of high school seniors (N = 221). Results supporting age of drinking initiation as a mediator of the relationship between sensation seeking and heavy alcohol use. Implications include providing personality-targeted prevention to adolescents who display sensation seeking traits to delay drinking initiation among these …

Lamotrigine Odt-Induced Seizure In A 3-Year-Old Child After Accidental Ingestion, Ashley Griswold, Briana Tully, Kenneth Katz, Gillian Beauchamp, Matthew Cook, Robert Cannon

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Lamotrigine is a new generation antiepileptic which blocks sodium channels and can cause significant toxicity in overdose. A case of a three-year-old child who suffered a seizure and required endotracheal intubation after accidental lamotrigine ingestion is presented. The lamotrigine concentration measured 23.2 mcg/mL which is the highest reported after accidental pediatric exposure. A review of the literature regarding pediatric lamotrigine poisoning is also included.

Wire Guided Cannulation Facilitates Endoscopic Management Of Buried Bumper Syndrome: A Novel Technique, Jacquelin Peck, Kaitlin Sapp, Alexander Wilsey, Michael Wilsey

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Buried bumper syndrome is a rare but potentially severe complication of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube insertion. Though this complication is uncommon, it may lead to pressure necrosis, bleeding, perforation, peritonitis, sepsis, or death. Each case of buried bumper syndrome is unique in terms of patient comorbidities and anatomic positioning of the buried bumper. For this reason, many approaches have been described in the management of buried bumper syndrome. In this case report, we describe the case of an adolescent Caucasian female who developed buried bumper syndrome three years after undergoing percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy insertion. We review diagnosis and management of …